Chapter 55: Chigo Taking Action, Mission Accomplished
Notes:
Taki — a hidden village concealed behind a waterfall, located in an unnamed country
Senjutsu — Sage techniques that draw upon natural energy
After a failed strike, the Mist rogue-nin suddenly realized his sensory perception had been severed once again. A cold shiver crawled down his spine, and he hissed in disbelief, "No… this isn't my technique."
A finger tapped lightly on his back, then slowly appeared.
Puchi.
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
The rogue-nin painfully lowered his head, and through the fading mist, he saw flickering arcs of lightning dancing across his chest.
"Sorry… this is my technique." A cold, detached voice cut through the air — Uchiha Tonan's.
Thump.
Darkness swallowed everything in front of the rogue-nin as his lifeless body crashed heavily into the water below. The thick mist dissolved like smoke, revealing Tonan poised on a branch, carrying Chigo who sat cross-legged, calm and composed.
Just then, Kakashi arrived, panting. "Tonan… are you okay?"
Tonan adjusted his glasses, eyes calm behind the lenses. "We're fine. This rogue-nin was weak — he underestimated the power of my eyes."
Kakashi glanced down at the corpse, brows furrowed. He had tangled with Tonan's genjutsu before, but was this truly that strong?
Tonan's gaze flickered briefly to his teammate. He withdrew a pill from his ninja pouch and handed it to Kakashi. "Here. It's quite good—eat it."
Kakashi hesitated but trusted Tonan's judgment. The pill was crisp, with a pleasantly sour-sweet flavor.
Before long, they spotted Namikaze Minato not far away. With effortless agility, Minato jumped between branches and landed before the group. Seeing them unscathed, he exhaled a relieved breath. "Good… you're all unharmed."
Tonan narrowed his eyes, addressing Minato with sharp focus. "Uzumaki-sensei, did you deal with the rogue-nin?"
Kakashi frowned slightly, sensing Minato's confidence. Minato nodded, eyes drifting to Chigo on Tonan's back. "They've already been taken care of. Let's move Master Chigo somewhere safer immediately."
Before Minato could step forward, the mist thickened suddenly, swallowing the entire area once again.
"There's more coming." Tonan's voice rang through the dense fog.
Minato's expression stiffened as he charged toward the source of the voice. Suddenly, a black orb of fluid burst from his body, hurtling toward Tonan and Chigo in a surprise attack.
At the same moment, Minato's figure blurred and morphed—his appearance shifting into the grotesque form of Kakuzu.
Bang.
Water splattered across the ground.
"Water clones! Damn that brat, tricked me!" Rage boiled inside Kakuzu's voice as he rapidly formed hand seals.
"Wind Style — Pressure Damage!"
But before he could release the wind jutsu, something felt off. Years of experience as a lethal contract killer and bounty hunter sharpened his instincts instantly.
The mist was no ordinary fog — it was toxic.
Kakuzu barely registered this realization when hidden explosive tags beneath the ground erupted simultaneously.
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
Bang!
A small mushroom cloud burst in the forest, leaving a scorched smell and smoldering debris behind. Tonan had stealthily planted those explosive tags during the fight with the earlier rogue-nin.
From a nearby branch, Kakashi gave Tonan a sideways glance, eyebrows raised. "You came prepared?"
Tonan adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly. "Yes. The clan's ninja supply store had a promotion — buy two explosive tags, get a bottle of poison free. Thought it was a good deal, so I bought six. Later realized the poison was expired… I'll definitely file a complaint when we get back."
Before Tonan finished speaking, Kakuzu's furious roar thundered through the smoke and dust. "You've pushed me too far! All of you will pay with your lives!"
Before the smoke cleared, a black sphere shot toward Tonan's group of three. They leapt aside just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Kakashi's face darkened. "What is this guy? Even that didn't finish him off?"
Landing silently, Chigo, still perched on Tonan's back, patted Tonan's shoulder, then stepped down. "That's Earth Grudge Fear… You're from Taki, a traitor ninja — the infamous bounty hunter, Kakuzu."
He shoved Kakashi and Tonan back. "You two, stand down. This is beyond your ability."
Tonan grabbed Chigo's hand with resolute seriousness. "Master Chigo, rest assured. You're our client, and we will protect you with our lives if necessary."
Chigo smiled warmly, shaking his head. "You are truly wise."
At that moment, the mist dispersed. Kakuzu struggled to his feet, staggering. Beside him lay a doll mask, ominous and black as night. Tonan knew his earlier tactic had claimed one of Kakuzu's lives.
Kakuzu's hands flew through hand seals rapidly. "Fire Style — Searing Migraine."
A towering column of scorching flames shot toward the trio. Chigo's eyes snapped open, burning with fierce determination. An illusory golden thousand-armed Bodhisattva materialized behind him. With serene grace, he raised his right palm and gently thrust it forward.
Bang.
The raging flame was instantly snuffed out. The residual force sent Kakuzu hurtling dozens of meters back, crashing through countless trees.
Kakashi's jaw dropped in disbelief. A silent question formed in his mind — Is this really the person we're sworn to protect?
As smoke and dust settled, Kakuzu had vanished without a trace.
Chigo relaxed, voice calm and clear. "The assailant has been driven off."
Tonan bowed deeply, hands pressed together. "Thank you, Master Chigo."
"That technique just now… it didn't seem like ninjutsu. Senjutsu? Or something else?"
Tonan's eyes gleamed with ambition, silently yearning to inherit every ounce of Chigo's power. Yet, aware of the vast gulf between their strength, he forced himself to suppress those desires for now.
Kakashi sensed Chigo's overwhelming power — they might not be needed as protectors at all. Glancing toward the still-fighting Minato, he asked, "Should we help Minato-sensei?"
Tonan thought carefully, then shook his head. "No. Let's head to the nearest town first. If Minato can't defeat his foes, he can escape on his own. If we join, we'll only be a liability."
With that, Tonan hoisted Chigo back onto his shoulders and dashed toward the town.
Not long after, Minato, after a fierce struggle, defeated the Cloud rogue-nin. Worried that Tonan and Kakashi might fail against the Mist rogue-nin, Minato exchanged a few swift blows with the remaining Rock rogue-nin and made a clean getaway.
The rogue-nin, after facing Minato's overwhelming skill firsthand, dared not pursue.
Five days later, Minato's team safely escorted Chigo to the Fire Temple.
"Thank you all," Chigo said solemnly.
After signing the mission paperwork, he turned to Tonan with a gentle smile. "Tonan, if one day you tire of the shinobi life, consider joining us at the Fire Temple."
Tonan pressed his palms together respectfully. "Thank you for the offer, but my dream is to gain the trust and acknowledgment of every villager, and to use my life to protect them. I will never leave the village."
"That's admirable. Should your heart ever change, the Fire Temple doors will always be open."